Farewell to Pope Francis
By Lethbridge Herald on April 22, 2025.
By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Catholics all over the world are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, just a day after he provided the blessing known as the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
In a declaration of the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, the announcement of Pope Francis’ passing was made Monday morning.
His Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to service to the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis, formerly known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Argentina and was the first Latin American Pontiff to lead the Catholic Church. He chose the name Francis when he became Pope to honour St. Francis of Assisi.
Bishop William McGrattan, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary which oversees 68 parishes across southern Alberta including Lethbridge, says Pope Francis emulated the example of Christ as the good shepherd.
“People were drawn to his humility, his speaking out on the values of the gospel, and they saw in Pope Francis someone who is approachable,” says McGrattan.
This included his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, when after providing his blessing, he went through the square to be close to those in attendance while riding the Pope mobile for the last time.
In regards of Pope Francis passing the following day, Bishop McGrattan says he believes it was providential and in God’s plan to give witness to Pope Francis’s hope and his faith in the resurrection.
“And it should bring some consolation to many of the Catholics who will be praying throughout these nine days of mourning,” says McGrattan.
He says that to provide Catholics in southern Alberta an opportunity to mourn, the various parishes have been asked to have an image of the late Pope and a kneeler for people to stop by and pray during the nine days of prayer for the repose of his soul.
“There is a custom of placing a black ribbon on the doors of the church, to indicate this time of mourning and the death of the Holy Father, and then eventually I will be celebrating a mass for the repose of his soul and inviting the faithful of the diocese to join me,” says McGrattan.
He says that would be dependent on the time of the funeral mass in the Rome and if he would need to attend the funeral as president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“In Lethbridge we have instructed the parishes to offer opportunities for the celebration of mass for the repose of his soul, and parishes are asked to offer masses in this coming week during the nine days of mourning for our Holy Father.”
When talking about the pope’s legacy, Bishop McGrattan says he leaves multiple apostolic letters, but his actions spoke even louder as he offered many apologies on behalf of the church, including one here in Alberta for indigenous people.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action of 2015 called on the Pope to issue an apology to survivors and their families for the role the Roman Catholic Church played in colonization and participation in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada.
And Bishop McGrattan adds that Pope Francis saw that reconciliation with indigenous people was an important step that needed to be taken, and he visited Canada in July 2022 to do just that.
“I think it was a very historic visit, especially to offer the apology on Canadian soil here in the province of Alberta,” says McGrattan. “I was there among the people in the crowd, and I could tell they were truly touched and moved by his recognition of the church’s role in that legacy.”
Premier Danielle Smith also reflected on Pope Francis’ visit to Alberta in 2022 and shared a message on his passing.
“Alberta was honoured to welcome the Holy Father in 2022, a visit that brought moments of worship, reflection, and an important step toward healing. His meeting with Indigenous leaders and his apology for the legacy of residential schools were acts of humility and reconciliation—reminders that faith calls us to forgiveness. Today, we join with Catholics across our province and the world in mourning Pope Francis, reflecting on a life dedicated to God and to the service of others.”
McGrattan adds that Pope Francis also apologized in multiple occasions in regards of victims of sexual abuse and was very committed to issues dealing with refugees and immigrants.
“He saw them as important for the world to address and recognize the dignity of people and how they had to flee from their countries because of various forms of oppression. He drew attention to a lot of social issues.”
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